Apple launched the new iPhone 11 range earlier this month, and it promises to be the most advanced and detailed iPhone to date.
If you want to pre-order yours today, here’s how to go about doing that.
Also new to the game is iPadOS, which the company has released ahead of the intended release date, which was originally September 30.
iPadOS brings some highly anticipated features to Apple’s tablet line, which will probably make ditching the laptop in favour of a tablet, like Seth did, a lot easier.
He recommends making the 64GB 12,9” iPad Pro your primary machine.
But let’s get back to what you came here for. Over to The Verge for some info on what we can expect from iPadOS:
This is the first iteration of iPadOS, and it naturally includes many of the iOS 13 features you’d expect to see like dark mode, updates to Apple Maps, Photos, and Reminders, and even things like Xbox and PS4 controller support for iPads. Apple is also adding what it describes as “desktop-class” browsing to Safari, and tweaking its multitasking features. An updated Files app should also make it easier to manage files and photos on an iPad.
iPadOS is available now on an iPad Air 2 or later, an iPad Pro, a fifth-generation or later iPad, or iPad mini 4 or later. Alongside iPadOS, Apple is also releasing iOS 13.1 to compatible iPhone devices today, with…automated Siri Shortcut actions, a share ETA feature in Apple Maps, and data separation for enterprise devices. You can get iOS 13.1 or iPadOS from settings > general > software update. If you’re still on the public beta profile, you’ll need to remove this from your device to see iOS 13.1 or iPadOS.
Take a look at what else you can do with the upgrade:
The Verge also outlined seven things to look out for:
1. Safari works like a desktop browser
One of the more frustrating parts of using an iPad before is that you had this big screen that often only showed blown-up iPhone versions of websites. Blame it on web developers if you want, but the cold truth of the web is that its more advanced features expect a desktop browser with a mouse.
Apple’s fix was to have the current Safari browser tell websites that is exactly what it is, the Mac version of Safari. That means websites are more likely to just show up as full desktop versions on the iPad.
2. New ways to manage windows
Even using the word “windows” is weird on an iPad, it doesn’t really fit. What I’m talking about is putting apps into split screen, using Slide Over, and so on. With iPadOS, Apple has stopped being shy about offering power users power options, so you have more ways than ever to arrange and rearrange your windows. Er, “spaces,” in Apple parlance.
3. New home screen
You can set the home screen to have a more dense grid of icons and you can set your Today view widgets to be permanently pinned there. Long-pressing icons on the home screen feels a lot more responsive and the context menu that pops up is way more useful. Pro tip: just long-press and drag your finger up through the options when the menu pops up.
4. Floating keyboard
You can pinch the on-screen keyboard to turn it into a little iPhone-sized keyboard that can be dragged around anywhere on the screen. I love it so much — it’s the rare case of Apple learning something from Chrome OS (yes, really!).
It’s great because you can put it over on the right and use the new QuickPath option to slide your thumb over letters to type. It makes typing on the iPad when you’re holding it much easier.
5. New more powerful files app
When Apple switched the iPad Pro over to USB-C, everybody started thinking about that port as useful for something other than a charger. And with iOS 12, very few things actually worked.
With iPadOS, that port has been allowed to do more things, and the best set of features is in the Files app. It can read USB drives and cards directly now, and you can even unplug those devices without the operating system chiding you.
6. Dark mode
Apple put some care into getting this right, it’s far more than just an inversion of white and black. You’ll find a surprising number of apps support it — even if they are still in the minority, it’s more than I expected at this point.
7. Photos app
It really is a step up, and though the photo editing options aren’t strictly new across the board, I find them much more intuitive and easier than before. What is new is the ability to apply all of that same stuff to video.
That all sounds great, and is likely to get even better as Apple continues to work on the system.
Remember, for all of your Apple-related needs, look no further than Digicape, South Africa’s largest independent Apple retailer.
They’re also your first port of call if you want some help navigating the new features on iPadOS.
Just make an appointment with one of their Fundis and they’ll sort you out.
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